The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a sharp condemnation of the Nigerian Army over the killing of a civilian in Warri, Delta State, accusing the military of eroding public confidence in civil–military accountability and attempting to justify unlawful bloodshed.
The rebuke comes in response to the Army’s defence of Lance Corporal Sefiu Ibrahim, implicated in the fatal stabbing of Mr. Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny at the gate of a private estate on October 12, 2025.
National Coordinator of the Association, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko in a statement on Saturday described the Army’s position as troubling, claiming it trivialises the sanctity of civilian life and raises serious questions about the deployment of military personnel in civilian spaces.
HURIWA expressed alarm that a trained soldier was assigned to guard a private estate, a role traditionally reserved for licensed private security or civil law enforcement. The association warned that such militarisation of civilian spaces is fostering impunity and avoidable loss of life.
“The circumstances surrounding Mr. Bonny’s death remain deeply troubling,” the statement read. “He had reportedly gone to visit a friend when an altercation occurred at the estate gate. By all accounts, it should never have escalated to lethal violence. Yet, a soldier allegedly drew a jack-knife and stabbed him at close range.”
HURIWA questioned the Army’s narrative of self-defence, pointing out inconsistencies in its explanation. “If the soldier’s life was under imminent threat, why was a jack-knife used rather than a service rifle? Eyewitnesses insist the soldier was not carrying a firearm. These contradictions cast doubt on the credibility of the Army’s claims,” the association said, calling for an independent, civilian-led investigation.
The group also demanded transparency, urging the Army to release any evidence supporting its version of events, including CCTV footage from the estate. HURIWA cautioned that internal investigations conducted without public scrutiny risk reinforcing perceptions that the military acts as judge and jury in cases involving civilian deaths.
HURIWA has facilitated contact between Mr. Bonny’s family and prominent human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who has indicated his willingness to take legal action to challenge the Army’s claims in court.
Beyond the Warri incident, the association warned that the killing reflects a broader climate of alleged impunity within Nigeria’s security architecture. HURIWA pointed to concerns surrounding the Tiger Base facility in Owerri, Imo State, where reports of unlawful detention and human rights violations, including alleged organ harvesting, have emerged. The group stressed that these allegations require urgent, independent, and international investigation.
The organisation also lamented the weakening of domestic accountability mechanisms. “The National Human Rights Commission appears ineffective in the face of mounting allegations against state actors. Political leadership has failed to prioritise the protection of human rights,” HURIWA said.
Calling on the international community to monitor Nigeria’s human rights record, the group specifically urged the United Nations Human Rights Council and the government of the United States to speak out against extra-judicial killings by security agencies. HURIWA stressed that international pressure has historically compelled authorities to address serious security concerns.
HURIWA emphasised that its criticism of the Army is not driven by hostility but by a commitment to the rule of law and the protection of civilian lives. “A military perceived as excusing civilian deaths risks losing moral authority and public trust. Justice for Mr. Ugochukwu Oghenekaro Bonny has become a defining test of whether the Nigerian Army remains bound by constitutional restraint,” the statement said.
HURIWA Condemns Nigerian Army Over Warri Killing, Questions Accountability
